tattletale box location?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 28, 2003 | 08:11 PM

F2504x4

Thread Starter

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 6,773

Likes: 7

From: On the road in Ohio

tattletale box location?

iveheard that some cars have a recording device in them,ifso do trucks have them ? and what do they do?and what happen if you remove them? just curious

Last edited by f=2504by497; Dec 28, 2003 at 08:14 PM.

Dec 29, 2003 | 05:44 PM

Rusty1

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 124

Likes: 0

From: Hawaii

If the F-150 has one in it----it's a very well kept secret. I'd say if you find one in another car, you'd better leave it. They put them in to help them prove if an accident was either the driver’s fault or the equipment. If the box is gone, it’s going to fall on the driver being stupid (unless your dead than who cares).

Dec 29, 2003 | 07:01 PM

triton_2002

Postmaster

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 2,977

Likes: 1

From: South Texas

I've heard of this too, but I don't think it's a seperate box. I think it's a function of the regular engine computer and you would need some kind of special interface to get the data out. At least that's what I remember from some show I saw about this.

Dec 29, 2003 | 08:50 PM

b2_tim

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 385

Likes: 0

2003 F150

My manual on page 6 of my spanking new F150 states that the computer records data that can be used to determine all sorts of operating parameters, and this data could be used by law enforcement among others. So I would guess that the computer is the device that records and stores the data.

Dec 29, 2003 | 09:02 PM

F2504x4

Thread Starter

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 6,773

Likes: 7

From: On the road in Ohio

in austrailia, they have boxs that are read once a year,it records how many times you broke the speed limit,and by how fast each time. i dont know this for fact,but it sounded realistic. supposeofly they have markers in the road by each speed zone that the compt. reads them assese fines accordinly, i wonder if theres any truth to this ? which is why im asking about the box. hence the name tattletale,

Dec 30, 2003 | 09:41 AM

LxMan1

Moderator

Joined: Dec 2001

Posts: 22,436

Likes: 17

From: Louisville,Ky.

I have heard that they are only on select vehicles such as police cars. They record up to about 15 sec. prior to a crash. I am guessing that it restarts the data about every 15 seconds.
Jimmy

Dec 30, 2003 | 09:56 AM

shorebird

Hotshot

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 11,537

Likes: 27

From: Long Beach, Ms.

The ECM reads a number of data collectors on your vehicle, speed sensor,throttle position, gear selection. This data is used to control the performance of the engine and drivetrain. This data is available at a later date thru a computer download. Just how long a period is recorded I'm not sure of. I do know that this type of info has been used as evidence in traffic cases. The one case that I'm aware of specificly had the driver claiming that he had applied the brakes prior to an impact and the data showed that there was no slowing of the vehicle prior to the fatal collision.

Last edited by shorebird; Dec 30, 2003 at 09:58 AM.